Tempered Safety Glass

California Glass Failure Analysis Expert discusses safety aspects of tempered glass:
The following codes interpret tempered glass for use as safety glass for the consumer:
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) #16 Part 1201 1997, ANSI Z97.1-2004 and CAN/CGSB-12.1-M90 all discuss the safety aspects of tempered glass. All basically state that tempered glass is safer because it breaks into small pieces when broken by human contact. This is because the force of impact is perpendicular to the glass sheet. In contrast, annealed glass breaks into long, "blade like" shards that can injure a person impacting the glass. This safety aspect is very specific. However, it doesn't address the case of decorative glass hanging above the public. If this glass fails sponteneously (as in the case of nickel sulfide induced failure), it will fall in sheets that behave in a manner similar to a sheet of glass. This is because there sre no forces into this glass that will cause it to break into small cubes. Read Consulting reccomends that the public be protected from all decorative tempered glass.